After the disappointing World Test Championship (WTC) final, India is now preparing to launch their campaign in the next cycle with a tour to the West Indies. The Indian team will play two Tests, three One-Day Internationals (ODIs), and a five-match T20 International series, starting on July 12, with the BCCI announcing the squads for the tour.
The main highlight of the selection was the exclusion of Cheteshwar Pujara, Mohammad Shami, and Umesh Yadav from the Test squad, while Ajinkya Rahane was re-appointed as the vice-captain of the team. Rohit Sharma will lead the Test squad, with young players like Yashasvi Jaiswal, Ruturaj Gaikwad, and pacer Mukesh Kumar added to the squad, while Navdeep Saini is back.
The Test series squad against the West Indies includes Rohit Sharma (C), Shubman Gill, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Virat Kohli, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Ajinkya Rahane (VC), KS Bharat (wk), Ishan Kishan (wk), R Ashwin, R Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Axar Patel, Mohammad Siraj, Mukesh Kumar, Jaydev Unadkat, and Navdeep Saini.
One point of discussion regarding the squad is the bowling unit, which seems to lack the same level of quality and depth that has been a hallmark of the team since 2014-15. Let’s examine three reasons why we believe that this Indian bowling attack may be weaker.
Inexperienced pace attack
The Indian cricket team’s pace bowling attack for the upcoming West Indies tour appears to be inexperienced, with Mohammad Siraj as the lead pacer having played only 19 matches. Jaydev Unadkat, the oldest member of the pack, has limited experience at this level, while Mukesh Kumar is set to make his Test debut. Navdeep Saini, who is making his Test comeback, has played only a few matches. The four pacers have played a total of 23 matches in the longest format and have taken 59 wickets.
Lacks pace
In Test cricket, bowlers require discipline, but pace and zip are also crucial. The pace bowling trio of Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammad Shami, and Umesh Yadav were instrumental in India’s overseas Test success, using their pace to rattle opponents. They complemented each other’s abilities perfectly. However, in the upcoming series, only Navdeep Saini has the ability to bowl consistently in the 140s. Unfortunately, Saini’s lines can be erratic. Shardul Thakur and Mukesh Kumar bowl in the 130s, with Kumar being more consistent with his lengths.
Not so ideal condition for spinners
The West Indies have a reputation for unpredictable pitch conditions, sometimes preparing grassy tracks for England and hard decks for Australia. However, it’s uncommon to see two spinners playing in an XI in the West Indies, except in the latter part of the summer when the pitches become dry. This creates a dilemma where only one of Ravindra Jadeja or Ravichandran Ashwin might play alongside inexperienced pacers, which could be a challenging situation for India.
